They built a circular platform with a small hole in the centre filled with sugar solution, into which bees had to move a ball to get a reward. A researcher showed them how to do this by using a plastic bee on a stick to push the ball.

And amazingly, it worked. The bees were able to show not only imitation of the initial demonstration but eventually creative strategy when they were given more difficult "holes."

It turns out, according to the author of the study Olli Loukola, that bees learn to play golf the same way humans do.

“They don’t just blindly copy the demonstrator; they can improve on what they learned,” says Loukola. He thinks this cognitive flexibility could help the bees forage successfully in changing natural environments. “This ability to copy others and improve upon what they observe, I think that’s really important.”

Bees can play golf now, so what's your excuse?

Don't feel too bad, because while the bees tended to be strong in the short game, they did seem to struggle getting distance off the tee. And while we're at it, they weren't keeping their lead arm straight, so they need to work on that.

Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson -- during a round of golf with Jesper Parnevik -- saw the chance to take a photo with a nearby alligator. But before the picture could be snapped, Karlsson got a scare.

Erik Karlsson is the captain and a defenseman for the the Ottawa Senators. He also likes to play golf.

With the Senators in south Florida this weekend for a Sunday tilt with the Florida Panthers, Karlsson met up with fellow Swede Jesper Parnevik for a round of golf at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla. on Saturday.

During the round, the group came upon an alligator minding its own business in a water hazard -- not an uncommon sight in that area of the country by any means.

Karlsson saw it as a great opportunity to snap a photo.

Just as he got into place, the gator gave the hockey tough guy the scare of a lifetime:

After calling the USGA, "not a good organization" on Friday, Bryson DeChambeau tweeted out an apology on Sunday.

Bryson DeChambeau made headlines late in 2016 and early in 2017 for experimenting with a side-saddle putting stroke.

After the stroke came under scrutiny by the USGA, DeChambeau switched back to a conventional style. When he missed the cut by four shots on Friday at the Honda Classic -- after withdrawing 28 holes into the Genesis Open a week earlier with a hand injury -- DeChambeau expressed his displeasure with the USGA in an interview with Golf Digest reporter Brian Wacker.

Citing the flu and a double ear infection, World No. 2 Jason Day withdrew from the WGC-Mexico Championship on Sunday.

The World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, which tees off this Thursday, will be without World No. 2 Jason Day.

Day, who was supplanted from his No. 1 spot when Dustin Johnson won last week's Genesis Open at Riviera, cited a double ear infection and flu as the reasons for his decision to miss the first WGC event of the calendar year.

"I'm truly disappointed to announce that I won't be able to play in next week's World Golf Championship-Mexico Championship. I have a double ear infection and the flu, which precludes me from preparing for and playing in the tournament. I have heard great things about the Mexico Championship and the golf course. I want to thank the Salinas family for their support of the event. I look forward to teeing it up there next year."

Day, the 2015 PGA Champion, is also a two-time winner of another World Golf Championships event -- the Dell Match Play.